Public Statements

Press Release

oday, Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ), along with Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR), led a coalition of House members urging House and Senate leaders to include a Balanced Budget Amendment as part of a deal to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff."

In a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the House members said, "We believe it is critical to our Nation's future that any legislation from current "fiscal cliff' negotiations include a permanent limitation on the ability of Congress to spend money we don't have. At a time when the U.S. treasury borrows thirty-one cents of every dollar spent, we need real reform that cannot be dodged, delayed, or punted to future Congresses."

"With every passing election, we hear continual, renewed promises that the federal government is going to stop kicking the can down the road and actually get serious about addressing a federal budget that can only accurately be deemed a crisis," Franks said. "A Balanced Budget Amendment -- which would Constitutionally mandate that our federal budgets be balanced -- is a simple, common-sense way to finally stop merely talking about fiscal responsibility and instead to take one of the only practical steps that can have such a meaningful impact on a fiscal crisis of this magnitude."

"Over the next few weeks it will be essential for Congress and the White House to reach an agreement that will avert the fiscal cliff and put America's economy back on track. Failure is not an option," said Crawford. "However, it would be a mistake to strike a deal that increases spending in exchange for higher taxes and the promise that we will cut spending down the road. If Republicans are going to strike a deal that raises taxes, then permanent spending controls have to be part of the deal."